Method of making labels



April 14, 1942.

A. C. M CRUM METHOD OF MAKING LABELS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l DOE DRUG STORE JOHN H. DOE, Proprietor 1050 so. MAIN ST. PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO. DOE DRUG STORE .94 4.

JOHN H. DOE, Proprietor JOHN H. DOE, Propriekor 105O SO. MAIN ST. 3 PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO. 5

' 1050 SO. MAIN ST.

DOE DRUG STORE JOHN H. DOE, Proprietor PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO. 9

1050 SO. MAIN ST.

DOE DRUG STORE JOHN H. DOE, Propriekor PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO.

1050 SO. MAIN ST.

PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO.

1050 SO. MAIN ST.

PHONE 55 DOE'DRUG STORE DETROIT, WYO.

JOHN H. DOE, roprIekor INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 14, 1942. A. c. MQCRUM 2,279,949

METHOD OF MAKING LABELS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fligjfl.

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DOSE For adults, one tablespoonful; children in proportion to 9- age. Maybe given in hot coffee or soda water to disguise taste. i

INVENTOR flrf/Iur C M-Crum L a BY ATTORNEY April 14, 1942. A, MCCIQU 2,279,949

METHOD OF MAKING LABELS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 DOE DRUG GT0 '3 5 JOHN H. DOE, Proprietor E flig 1050 SO. MAIN ST. PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO.

DOE DRUG STORE 5 JOHN H. DOE, ropri ekor E ZOM/ 1050 80. MAIN ST. PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO.

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DOSE For adults, one tablespoonful; children in proportion to, g age. May be given in hot coffee or soda water to disguise taste.

DOE DRUG STORE 4,30 ,NVENTOR JOHN H. DOE, Proprietor E L 1050 30. MAIN ST. PHONE 55 DETROIT, WYO. B

ATTORNEY April 14, 1942. Q McCRUM METHOD OF MAKING LABELS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m 5 m n n on m n an nounaooonln 0| none-v a Ila-ca ano 00000.0: 0 no 00.90 0001000 0 ATTRNEY April 14, 1942. A. C. Mcc u METHOD OF MAKING LABELS 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 19

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DOE DRUG STORE JOHN H D05, PM

DHROIT, WYOMING DOE DRUG STORE V 'muu um L D OE DRUG STORE INVENTOR flrf/rur C M-O'um.

ATTbRNEY DUROIT, W0.

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omen. wvumc Patented Apr. T4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,279,949 METHOD or MAKING LABELS Arthur C. McCrum, Kansas City, Mo.

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,606

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of making labels, and more particularly to a method of making druggists gummed labels and the like' in a rapid, accurate and economical manner; the principal objects of the invention being to provide a flexibility of design and an efficient method of producing said labels.

In the drug label making industry, two con ventional methods of manufacture have hereto fore been employed, namely, (1) the so-called "lithographic stone process, wherein drug label designs are engraved on stone and then by a conventional transfer method are etched on stone or zinc plates, depending upon the style of press to be employed in printing the labels. By this stone process of producing drug labels, the high cost of making the necessary engravings for the different sizes of labels and the necessarily slow procedure of the above mentioned transfer method steps so increase the selling price of these labels, particularly in relatively small quantities, as to put them out of reach of the average or small retail druggist. (2) The type or "letter press process, in which the high cost of make-ready and the high cost of distribution of type and material are out of proportion to the low selling price required for this class of labels and consequently result in little or no profit to the producer.

Further objects of my invention are, therefore,

to satisfy the trade by conveniently making available a variety of attractive designs in proper sizes suitable for each label ordered; and to provide a rapid, accurate and economical method of producing labels at selling prices within the reach of the average or small retail druggist, while still providing a reasonable margin of profit for the producer. I

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, and in carrying out my method, I employ apparatus and manipulative steps, the preferred arrangements of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a primary card, showing a stock design for copy to be applied thereto, together with a blank space for additional copy and hereafter referred to as a title-design.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a type copy proof,

pulled in black ink on transparent material and hereafter referred to as a cello-proof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a type copy proof, pulled on white enamel paper and hereafter referred to as a black-proo Fig. 4 is a plan view of a photographic contact print of the top portion of the cello-proof,

shown in Fig. 2, and hereafter referred to as a "contact print.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the completed design, showing a combination of a title-design, Fig. 1, a trimmed and pasted-on contact print, Fig. 4, and a trimmed and pasted-on bottom line of the black-proof," Fig. 3, to make a completed design hereafter referred to as a paste-up titledesign."

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a nine per cent (9%) photographic reduction print of the "paste-up title-design, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fifteen per cent (15%) photographic reduction print of the paste-up title-design, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a twenty-two per cent (22%) photographic reduction print of the paste-up title-design," Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a thirty-three per cent. (33%) photographic reduction print of the paste-up title-design, Fig. 5.

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, respectively, are plan views of illustrative skeleton" forms adapted for employment as "title-designs, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, respectively, and hereafter referred to as black-forms.

Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively, are plan views of black-forms provided respectively with title-designs, Figs. 6 to 9, respectively, pasted in proper position and hereafter referred to as paste-ups.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a black-form, Fig. 14, with a title-design, Fig. 3, pasted in proper position, and hereafter referred to as a pastep Fig. 20 is a view of a suitable camera copyboard, shown as supporting a group of individual paste-ups."

Fig. 21 is a plan view of a piece of glass, the size of a press plate, with a portion, as shown, painted black. The illustration shows half a label form, or one group of negatives, arranged in rows and properly spaced, from which a press plate is made.

Figs. 22 to 29 are plan views of a group of labels, actual size, which are most frequently used by the average druggist, showing various designs.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in relation to the method:

I and 2, Fig. 1, designate illustrations of a variety of blank designs having universal overall dimensions suitable for receiving druggists copy. such as the druggist's firm name, address, telephone number, city, and State, the designs preferably being printed in black permanent ink on cardboard stock 3.

4, Fig. 2, designates a "cello-proof which may be "pulled" from a suitable type form with opaque quick-drying black permanent ink, the celloproof preferably consisting of a sheet of transparent material, such as Cellophane, and bearthe so-called black-proof," Fig. 3, bearing designations similar to and in the same arrangement as the designations of the cello-proof, Fig. 2.

I I, Fig. 4, designates a contact print bearing the name designations and 6 of the celloproof 4, Fig. 2, the contact print II preferably being made immediately upon completion of the cello-proof and in a conventional manner, as by exposing sensitized printing paper over the cello-proof followed by developing, washing, fixing, rinsing, and drying the contact print.

The contact print II is then trimmed and pasted in a title-design, as shown in Fig. 5, the name designation I2 being placed in a design I3, similar to the design I, Fig. 1, and the proprietorship designation I4, similar. to the designation 6, Fig. 2, being placed on the design I5, Fig. 5, corresponding to the design 2, Fig. 1. The black proofs II, Fig. 3, and particularly the lower portion I5 thereof bearing the address, telephone number, city, and State designations are trimmed and pasted under the title designs I2l3 and I4-I5, as shown at H, on suitable, preferably cardboard, stock I8 to complete the paste-up title-design, Fig. 5. A paste-up title-desig may be easily and rapidly constructed, and is economical to produce, yet is attractive in appearance and is easily read.

Photographic reductions are preferably next made of the completed title-designs shown in Fig. 5, preferably with the use of conventional dark room camera equipment and film, the reductions preferably being in the relation of nine per cent (9%), fifteen per cent (15%), twentytwo per cent (22%), and thirty-three per cent (33%) reductions of the completed title-design" shown in Fig. 5 to produce films I9, Fig. 6; 20, Fig. 7; 2|, Fig. 8; and 22, Fig. 9, respectively. The films I9 to 22 are then trimmed and taped side by side in a suitable manner, after which three photographic prints are preferably made of the group. The prints may be conveniently stored-in the particular drugg'ists file for useas and when desired.

23, Fig. 10, designates a black-form which may be reproduced from type copy or artists drawings in a suitable manner. The blackform is preferably exactly double the size of the ultimatelabel to be produced, and is printed in black permanent ink on cardboard of proper size. A blank space 24 is provided to receive one size of title-design which, in this instance, is the title-design I9, Fig. 6.

25, Fig. 11; 26, Fig. 12; and 21, Fig. 13,- designate black-forms similar to the form 23, but of progressively smaller size in the respective relationship of fifteen per cent (15%), twenty-two per cent (22%) and thirty-three per cent (33%) reductions relative to the space normally required for a paste-up title-design of a relative size shown in Fig. 5.

28, Fig. 14, designates an alternative type of black-form having suitable intelligenc 23 on one portion thereof and a space 38 on another portion thereof to receive a title-design which, in this instance, is of a size corresponding to the title-design 20, Fig. 7.

The title-designs I9 to 22, and the blackforms" 23,25,26,and 2'I,togetherwith the blackform 28 and another title-design" 2I are then combined in "paste-up form to produce pasteup forms 3|, Fig. 15; 32, Fig. 16; 33, Fig. 17; and 34, Fig. 18, in which the black-forms," Figs. 10 to 13, have the title-designs," Figs. 6 to 9, applied to the spaces provided for the title-designs. Similarly, a paste-up form 35, Fig. 19, similar to the black-form" 28, Fig. 14, is provided with the "title-design 20 in the space for the design provided therefor, as shown in-Fig. 14.

holding the forms in their selected rows. The

copy-board may further be supported in longitudinally adjustable relation to a camera on a support 42, and suitable lighting devices 43 and 44 may be provided to illuminate the forms sufliciently to reflect light therefrom onto sensitized film in a manner known in the photographic art.

The group of paste-up forms on the copyboard, Fig. 20, is preferably reduced approximately fifty per cent (50%), and the reducing film negative is developed and dried in a conventional manner, opaque" 01' the like being applied to the negatives to correct any discrepancies therein.

The method thus far described produces label forms in suitable standard sizes, it having been found that a satisfactory size is approximately 11 by 17 inches. It has further been found that the noted satisfactory size of label form suggests two groups of paste-ups that are preferably reduced to 8 /2 by 11 inches, film size. The copyboard 48, Fig. 20, is therefore preferably masked out at 16 /2 by 21 inches to produce a film slightly smaller than 8 by 11 inches, the purpose of which is to allow for a gripper margin on a masking out glass 45, Fig. 21.

The masking out glass 45 is preferably of a size suitable for receiving a group of negatives made from the copy-board reduction, just above described, such negatives being arranged to produce half a label form, as indicated at 48, and to substantially fill the unmasked portion 41 of the glass 45, the remainder of the glass being masked wt preferably by opaque black paint 48.

It is further preferable to space the negatives on the glass 45, as shown at 48 and 50, to facilitate separating the same, as by cutting after they are printed. I

The group of negatives, as shown in Fig. 21, are preferably of such size as to form a sheet suitable for reproduction on a press of preferably offset type, and several of such masking out devices or glasses 45 may be employed for the purpose of setting up label forms in such a manner that the glasses may be moved about at will from one department in a label manufacturing establishment to another, and for the purpose of disassembling the form after a press run has been made.

After the negative form has been set up on the glass masking out device, as shown in Fig. 21,

an offset press plate may be made, preferably by the conventional albumin process, the plate then being employed in a standard offset press for printing on suitable gummed paper or the like, not shown,' by the conventional offset printing process. The sheets so printed may then be cut apart to produce individual labels 5|, Fig. 22; 52, Fig. 23; 53, Fig. 24; 54, Fig. 25; 55, Fig. 26; 56, Fig. 27; 51, Fig. 28; and 58, Fig. 29, it being apparent that the labels 5l58 depend on the negatives that happen to be set up as a form on the masking out glass 45, from which the printing plate is produced. The completed labels so formed may then be sorted and delivered as individual jobs.

Recapitulating, a trimmed contact print, Fig. 4, taken from a cello-proof, Fig. 2, and an address line, from a white enamelled proof, Fig. 3, may be arranged on and relative to a title-design, Fig. 1, to form a paste-up, Fig. 5. The paste-up Fig. 5, is then preferably reduced nine per cent (9%), fifteen per cent (15%), twentytwo per cent (22%), and thirty-three per cent (33%), and prints therefrom are applied to black-forms, Figs. to 13, to produce completed pasteup forms, Figs. to 18. paste-up forms are placed on the copy-board, Fig. 20, and reduced fifty per cent (50%) to form negatives, which are arranged on the masking out devices, Fig. 2l. A printing plate is made from the negatives on the masking out glass, and the labels, Figs. 22-29, are reproduced in copies from the printed plate.

It is apparent, therefore, that a rapid, accurate, relatively economical, flexible and efficient method of producing labels, and especially druggists gummed labels, is provided by the present invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of printing gummed labels, said labels comprising a predetermined label form, a predetermined title design, said design bearing an individual legend in color contrasting to the color 01 said design. including the steps of selecting a The label form from a plurality of stock label forms, selecting a title design from a plurality of stock title designs, forming an individual legend in corntrasting color to the color of said title design, superimposing said individual legend upon said selected title design to form a titled design, superimposing said titled design on said selected label form, then forming a plate from the result of the antecedent steps and using said plate to print the desired labels.

2. A method of printing gummed labels, said labels comprising a predetermined label form, a

predetermined design, said design bearing an individual legend in contrasting color, including the steps of selecting a label from a plurality of stock label forms, selecting a design from a plurality of stock designs, forming an individual legend in contrasting color to the color of said design, said design and said legend being larger than that required for said selected label form, superimposing said individual legend on said selected design to form a titled design, photographing said titled design to form a photographic negative, printing said negative to form a print of a size proportioned to said selected label form, superimposing said print of said titled design upon said selected label form, then forming a plate from the result of saidv antecedent steps and using said plate to print the desired labels.

3. A method of printing labels in different predetermined sizes having a title design and an individual legend in contrasting color thereon, comprising the steps of selecting a title design from a plurality of stock designs, producing an individual legend in part the same color and in part in contrasting color to the title design, combining the title design and legend parts to form a title design paste-up, selecting label forms of diiferent predetermined sizes, photographically reproducing the title design paste-up in sizes to conform with the different selected sized label forms, mounting the different sized reproductions of the title design on label forms proportioned to the sizes of the title design reproductions to form label paste-ups, photographically reproducing the label paste-ups, forming a printing plate of said last prepared photographic reproductions, and printing the labels from said plate.

ARTHUR C. McCRUM. 

